Hain is told to disband IRA or fail

Peter Hain was warned yesterday that he would fail as Northern Ireland Secretary unless he made republicans disband the IRA.

He was criticised by David Trimble, the out-going Ulster Unionist Party leader, for not calling for IRA disbandment on his first visit to Ulster since being appointed.

Mr Hain said he wanted to end the political stalemate that has dogged Northern Ireland. On the BBC's Today programme, he spoke of getting the political institutions "up and running" with the co-operation of Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein.

He called on the IRA to "end criminality and their paramilitary ambitions", but did not advocate total break-up of the terrorist group.

He later met Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, and Martin McGuinness, the party's chief negotiator. He also met DUP members.